Crime unsolved as National underfunds Police

The National Government must accept responsibility for rising rates of crime and unsolved burglaries because it has underfunded Police, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says.

“Police are desperately under-resourced and have been told there will be no staffing increases until 2020.

“It’s not surprising that members of the community are expressing concerns about rising crime.

“The Prime Minister’s letter to the Chinese community this week shows he’s in damage control over his Government’s failure to fund police properly.

“National has failed to ensure police numbers keep up with population growth. John Key has broken his own 2008 election promise to have one Police Officer for every 500 people. There is now one Police Officer to every 526 people.

“This is making our communities less safe. Last year more than 90 per cent of burglaries went unsolved. At the same time, assaults rose by 6 per cent, burglaries increased by 14 per cent and robberies went up by 12 per cent.

“Labour welcomes the Police Minister’s call for police to attend every burglary. But with no plan, timeline or Police numbers, this is just talk.

“Judith Collins has admitted there isn’t enough Police. It’s time she put her money where her mouth is and funded more officers to keep our communities safe,” Andrew Little says.